Packaging Materials For Packaging Professionals

About the Seminar  Download Seminar Brochure Download Seminar Syllabus
This seminar is designed to give packaging industry professionals a sound understanding of the science and applications of various packaging materials. An understanding of the underlying principles of materials science is beneficial when performing troubleshooting of packaging problems and in development of packaging. This two day seminar covers fundamental concepts of materials science and then applies that to common packaging materials, such as plastics, metals, papers and composites.

Who Should Attend
Any personnel in the R&D, testing, process, design, fabrication and manufacturing of food, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, chemical, veterinary or industrial product packaging who lack formal training in materials science can benefit from this unique course. Packaging, film and foil personnel will also benefit.

About the Instructor
Dr. Duncan Darby, Associate Professor for the Packaging Science Department at Clemson University, is a recognized expert in the use and manufacture of flexible packaging. He has over 20 years of experience in the flexible packaging industry, developing and providing technical support for sealable packaging materials for dairy products, shelf-stable products, beverages, dry products, confectionery products and pharmaceutical products. Duncan has real-world, hands-on experience with multiple package formats including pouches, cups with lidding and blisters with blister-backing, and has worked with many horizontal and vertical packaging lines. He holds a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, KY, where his coursework concentrated on polymer science and applications. He teaches courses at Clemson, conducts short courses on a variety of subjects and provides consulting services for industrial clients. Duncan has been a featured speaker the TAPPI PLACE, Global Pouch and E5 conferences.

  • Learn how the physics and chemistry of materials impact their properties and packaging performance
  • Learn the fundamental make-up of plastics, metals, glass and papers
  • Learn about important packaging property classes such as strength, optical, thermal and permeability
  • Learn about how materials get selected in the packaging marketplace
Schematic of Pressure Induced Flow During Sealing
Photomicrograph of a Seal
  • Bonding, atomic structure and morphology
  • Mixtures, solutions and alloys
  • Phases and phase diagrams
  • Defects and failures
  • Properties of major materials
  • Processing of major materials